Cable-carrier system.



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F. J. H. HAZARD.

CABLE CARRIER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APILZS, 1912.

Patented Jan. 12,1915.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNE Y.

IHL: NORRIS PETERS CO.v PHOTO-l [THO 4 WASHINGTON D. C,

F. .J. H. HAZARD.

CABLE CARRIER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APILZS, 1912.

1 ,124,431 Patented Jan. 12,1915.

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T'HE NORRIS PETERS co.. PHOTC-LITHO. WASHINGTON, n. c.

F. J. H. HAZARD. CABLE CARRIER SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED APR.23,1912.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915.

4 SHBETSSHBET 4.

71 INVENTOR. 12y MW A TTORNE Y.

WITNESSES.

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FREDERICK J. II. HAZARD, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

CABLE-CARRIER SYSTEM.

Application filed April 23, 1912. Serial No. 692,658.

7 '0 all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK J. H. HAZ- ARD, of the city of Toronto, in the Province of Ontario, Canada. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cable-Carrier Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cash carrier systems in which a box, suitably guided on tracks, is drawn by an endless cable from station to station, and my objectis to devise a simple "and eflicient system of this type in which the outgoing and return tracks are arranged side by side, in which reliableautomatic mechanism is embodied for engaging the boxes with the cable at all despatching stations and for disengaging them at re ceiving stations, in which selective automatic means are employed for discharging each carrier on the outgoing track at its own station and in which effective means are provided to prevent the cables jumping the guide pulleys at turns.

' lVith this object in view my invention consists essentially of the constructions herein specifically set forth and particularly claimed.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the cashier end of the system. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of an intermediate station showing the sending part and portion of the receiving part. Fig. l is a plan view of the same parts. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the receiving part of an intermediate station shown in continuation of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a plan view of thesame parts. Fig. is a side ele vation of a modification of the'intermediate receiving station. Fig. 8 is a plan view of part of the same. Fig. 9 is a side elevation partly in section showing a corner of the system. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the same parts. Fig. 11. is an enlarged sectional detail showing the cable catching device formed by one of the rails and one of the grooved pulleys. Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the left hand supporting bracket shown in Figs. 9 and-l0. Fig. 13.is a similar view of the next adjacent bracket toward the right. Fig. 1% is a side elevation partly insection of one of the boxes. Fig. is an end view of the box. Fig. 16 is an enlarged end view of part of the cable gripping mechanism of the box,

In the drawings like numerals of refer ence indicate corresponding parts in the difround steel rod. These tracks are supported on brackets 2 each preferably formed of a closed frame-work and three vertical members 3. These members are provided withlugs 41: to which the'rails are secured by screws or rivets 5. The lugs, it will be noted particularly on reference to Figs. 3 and 1, p ro ect lengthwise of the track, so that the r vets are easily got at from each side for riveting. One track, it will be noted, is slightly offset relative to the other, so that it stands at a different level. This makes no difference in the operation of the system, but enables me to get at the inner lugs 4; so that the rivets may be properly riveted, iwhich could not be done if the tracks were in me.

6 represents the cables. These are carried and driven in ordinary manner and no description thereof is necessarv. I show, however, at the cashiers end (see Fig. 1) the guide pulleys 7 and 8 over which the cables,

are led to the operating mechanism. I also show two corner guide pulleysQ and 10 to which further reference will be made hereinafter. (See Fig. 10.)

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 which illustrate the cashiers end of the system, it will be seen that the outgoing track is bent down at the end and has its rails secured to a guide bracket 11 which is suitably shaped to serve as a guide for the box 12- when the latter is being pushed into position. This box is provided with the'plate 13 fiber lined and having its under side secured to the top of the box intermediate its edges and adapted to rest on top of the rails 1 of the tracks. Anti-friction rollers 14: are journaled on the central line of the box, one toward each end to fit between the rails of the tracks to keep the box in line. See Figs. 14c and 15.) lVhen the box is slipped in place over the guide bracket 11 the ends of the rail 1 of the outgoing track fit under the plate 13. The cable 6 of the outgoing track, it will be noted, is led down to a position'just above the end of the track. Each box is provided-with cable gripping mechanism, which Inust'be engaged with the cable as soon as the box is in proper position to run on the track. This cable gripping mechanism is best seen in Figs..14 to 16- of the drawings. The jaws are provided both preferably movable and pivoted on the screws 16 screwed into the upturned end of the plate 13. These jaws are so shaped that, when in the position shown in Fig. 16 in dotted lines, they are in a poto engage pins 20 secured to the jaws 15. It .is evident that by vertically reciprocating the plunger that the desired movements may be imparted to the jaws 15. A coil spring 21 engages one of the guides 18, and e a seat 22,formed in the lower portion of the plunger, which spring tends to move the plunger downward, and consequently the jaws, to the cable gripping position. The yoke 23 isisecured in position by means of .the screws 16 and serves to hold up the cable in the proper position to be engaged between the curved faces 24 of the jaws 15. The plunger 17, it will be noted, projects below the bottom of the boxwhen the jaws l5 are in their cable gripping position. It will also be noted that an inclined cam surface 25 is rigidly supported from the outgoing track adjacent the guide frame 11. The inclination .of this cam surface 25 is such that as the box is pushed on the track it gradually pushes up the plunger 17 so that the cable 6 will be received between the jaws 15. The cable is gradually pushed up as the box advances so that it lies closely between the jaws. When the plunger reaches the end of the inclined cam surface 25 it is forced by the spring 21 to thecable gripping position. The box is then drawn by the cable along the track until a discharge station is reached. This, if it is at the end of a line, will be very similar to the discharge station at the cashiers end, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with immaterial mechanical variations. It will be seen that near the end ofthe incoming track the cam surface 26, similar to the cam surface 25 but in a reverse direction, is supported below the track so that when a car reaches this cam surface 26 its cable gripping mechanism is operated to release the cable.

point the cable tends to lift away from the box owing to the locationof the guide pulley 8, the cable is pulled clear of the jaws 15 by the time the plunger 17 has reached the end of the cam su'rfaceand the spring 21 again closes the jaws. Thev box then runs by its own momentum to the end of the ingoing track, where it passes off on to the As at this I receiving chute 27 which is provided at the plate 13 of a boxto passthrough. The gap is normally filled by the track section 30 whi'chis formed of two rails suitably supported by the swinging frame 31. This frame is pivoted at 32 on a bracket 2 forward of the gap. The rearward end of the swinging frame is provided with curved members 33 to which the track section 30 is connected. These curved members also carry the track section 34 which when the frame'is swung up may be brought into the gap in the track to take the place of the track section 30. When the swinging frame is up it is evident that the box 12 will be in proper position to move forward on to the main track. Below the track section 3 1 an inclined cam surface 35 is suitably supportedby the curved members 33. This cam surface 35 is suitably positioned so that the cable grippingmechanism of the box is moved to its cable receiving position as the box is placed in position on the track section 34. An elastic buffer 36 is secured to thebracket 2 in the position shown to means to push forward-the box, when the.

track section 34: has been brought into the gap in the main'track, so as to bring the box to a position in which the plunger passes off the end of the cam surface 35 and permits the cable gripping mechanism to move to its cable gripping position. For this purpose I provide the cam lever 37 pivoted on the bracket 2 at the rear side ofthe gap in the track. This cam lever is so pivoted andbent that it may be rocked to engage the rear end of the box when the track section 34 is nearly in position to span the gap in the track. The lever is provided with the finger 38 adapted" to be engaged by the plate 13 of the box. By the time the track section 34: is in proper position in the gap in the main track the finger 38 has been rocked sufficiently to. cause the'lever 37 to push the box forward as desired, and the cable gripping mechanism of the box to enstations, it is merely necessary to employ particularly on'referen'ce to Figs. 5 and 6 that a gap is formed in the outgoing track. The brackets 2 at opposite sides of the gap may have secured thereto the brace rods 29 which maintain continuity of connection past the gap in the track; (See Fig. 7.) Below each rail at each side of. the gap 1 provide a support 40. These supports are adapted to receive the thin bars ll. I For this purpose slots are formedinthe supports in which the'bars may be fitted and held in place by the pins l2. The lowermost bar 4-1 forms aY with'the'thin bar 43 which is curved down to a lower level andis engaged with the lower support 6L4: similar to the upper supports 40 and in which the curved barv l3 may be secured in any one of a plurality of positions. Paralleling the bar is a second. curved bar connected with one of thesupportself) and with the lower support 1%. Of course apair of these curved bars B and 4-5 is employed'beneath each rail of the track.

The boxes it will be noted particularly on reference to Figs/14 and 15 are provided at opposite sides with pairs of lugs 46. These are preferably formed of L-sha-ped pieces havingpart riveted to the box inside the same and part projecting through a slot in the side of the box. Each box is preferably provided with a plurality of slots,-so that the lugs may be secured to the box in any desired positionh Each box will have the lugs secured to it ina different vertical plane. The box which is designed to pass out at an intermediate station nearest the cashiers end will have the lugs in the lowest position, and the box intended to pass out near the end of the line will have its lugs in the highest position. Each inter mediate station will have the curved bars 43 and d5 secured to the supports 40 and L4 in a. suitable positionto enable'the lugs 46 of the appropriate box to passbetween these bars, "so that thebox will be guided down below the track while a suflicient number of straight bars ll will be employed to guide the other boxes by means of the lugs 46 over the gap, each box riding on thebars appropriate to the position of its lugs. As the supports will be the same at all of the at any. given station the proper number of straight bars and to locate the curved bars in the proper position to engage the lugs of the proper box for that station.

lVhen a box has been carried down to a lower level, as described, it is necessary to in the track and bent aroundjin a half circle to discharge beneath the adjacent ingoing track, as shown particularly in Figs. 4: and 5. here the box which has been drawn down enters on the track 47, I suitably support below the track the inclined cam surface 4;8 which is suitablyshaped to force up the plunger 17 of the b0): and release the cable gripping mechanism. The cable being carried well above the track at pulls out of the jaws 15 as soon as thelatter opens so that the box is free to run around the track and shoot off the other end thereof.-

A modification of the inte mediate discharge station is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. In this construction, instead of employing straight bar's ll 1 span the gaps in the tracks by pivoted sections as. These have theirends bent around to form-the pivots 50 which have a bearing in the bracket 2 at the end of thegap. Coil springs 51 wound on the pivots 50 and suitably engaging these pivots and the bracket tend to hold the pivoted sections 49 in the position shown-inthe drawings, the tension of the spring being sufficient to enable the pivoted sections to carry a box across the gap. The straight bars being dispensed with, the support s0 is needed below each rail merely at the end of the gap adjacent the pivots 50. I prefer, however, to employ three lower supports 4% and to lengthen the curved bars 43 and 4:5, as shown in Fig. 7. The operation of this modification is much the same as that previously described, the curved bars being suitably set to engage the lugs 46 of the box appropriate to a given station. I show, however, a slight variation of the cable release mechanism. The curved bars 43 and 45 in turning down gradually approach the horizontal again, so that a substantially horizontal surface 52 will be employed instead of the inclined cam surface 48. Below the gap in the track I prefer in this'modification to somewhat separate the curved bars and to space them from one another by means of a spacer53 suitably riveted in place toward the outer sides of the bars. I find that as the car retains connection with the pivoted sections -19 until it has traveled the full length ofthese sections that the lugs on the box will not follow around between parallel curved bars and the allowance referred to 'must, therefore, be provided.

At points where the cables and tracks are expected to turn a corner special provisions must be made to prevent the cables jumping the grooved guide pulleys necessarily employed. In Figs. 9 and 10 1 illustrate the special construction of the corners I have devised for this purpose. In a suitable Qurnaled skeleton frame-work 54: are grooved guide pulleys 9 and 10. These are set in different planes and overlap one another, as shown, so that the tracks and cables require to be spread as little as pos sible at the corner.. Ordinarily the cables lie in the bottom ofthe brackets 2 below the tracks, but atv the corners they must rise and pass above the tracks to engage the guide pulleys. Ltherefore, offset the tracks,

as shown in Fig. 10, adjacent the pulley so the guide pulleys 9 and 10. I take advantage of this tendency to provide means for catching and holding the cables incase a sudden slack in the cable causes a tendency for it to snap out of the groove in the adjacent guide pulley. The inner supporting lugs 56 for the rails on they bracket are therefore curved, as shown in Fig. 18, or otherwise dropped below the level of the rails to form in effect cable catchers which will receive the cables and hold them upin case of a sudden slackening occurring. The pulleys occupy naturally some considerable amount of vertical space and the rails 1 of the tracks must, therefore, be somewhat more spread vertically at the corners than they are along the main portion of the line. This is illustrated in Fig. 9, and the brackets 2 adjacent the corners of brackets 55 v are shaped accordingly. The rails ad'- j acent the guide pulleys are concentric with parts of the guide pulleys and are substantially ona level with the lower flanges of the grooves and close thereto so 'as to form a "pocket which will receive and hold the cable in case a sudden slackening tends to cause it to fly out of the groove inthe pulley. To further increase the safety in this respect the side of the rail adjacent the pulley is preferably flattened, as shown particularly in Fig. 11, making it more diflicult for the cable to ride over the track andfall down. This arrangement of the inner rails of the tracks relative to the grooves inthe I pulleys, combined with the arrangement of the cable catchers on the brackets 55, and the offsetting of "the tracks .as described, give a tangential lead to the cables to make it practically impossible for slackness of the cable to cause it to jump the guide pulleys. It will be noted that the portion of each inner track next the pulley and which is tangential to the pulley rim is of an appreciable'length and that the offset occurs between the end of this tangential portion and the main track so that'the cable, when.

no car is passing crosses abovethe rail before the tangential portion 1s reached and therefore near the lower level of the rail.

fWhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a cable carr er system the comblnation with a horizontal grooved guide pulley; of a track rail concentric with an arc in close proximity thereto.

of the pulley, the side vof the rail next the pulley being flattened and extending above the lower flange of the groove of the pulley 2. In a cable carrier system the combination with ahorizontal grooved guide pulley;

.of a traclrrail concentric with an arc of the pulley, the rail extending above the lower flange of the groove of the pulley and spaced therefrom a distance less than the diameter of the cable employed so as to forma cable catching pocket.

3. In a cable carrier systemusing a two rail track, the combination with a horizontal groovedguide pulley; of the inner track rail concentric with an arc of the pulley, the rail extending above the lower flange of the groove of the pulley and spaced therefrom a distance less than the diameter of the cable employed so as to form a cable catchingpocket.-

4. In a "cable carrier system, the combination with a horizontal grooved guide pul' ley; of a track railconcentric with an arc of the pulley, the rail extending above the lower flange of the groove of the pulley and spaced therefrom a distance less than the diameter of 'the cable employed; a box adapted to run on said rail;'a cable passing around said pulley and normally lying in the groove therein; and a cable grip on the box above its track engaging parts adapted to grip said cable.

In a cable carrier system using double tracks side by side the combination with a horizontal grooved guide pulley, of an inclined track rail rising from a lower level to the level of the lower flange of the pul- I inner rail of the track into a position substantially tangential to the pulley flanges, the track rails rising from a lower level substantially to the level of the lower flange of the pulley.

7. In a cable'carrier' system the combination of a pair of horizontal track rails having a gap formed therein; a vertically swinging frame; a short track sectioncarried by the frame normally fitting the gap;

and a second track section carried by the frame adapted when the frame is swung up to lit in the gap. I

8. Ina cable carrier system the combination of a pair of horizontal track rails having a gap formed therein; a Vertically swinging frame; a short track section carried by the frame normally fitting the gap; a second track section carried by the frame adapted when the frame is swung up to lit in the gap; a box adapted to be pushed onto the second track section when the frame is down; cable grip mechanism carried by the box; and means carried by the swinging frame for opening the grip mechanism as a box is fitted in place, said opening means being adapted to release the grip mechanism when the box is pushed forward off said track section.

9. In a cable carrier system the combination of a pair of horizontal track rails hav ing a gap formed therein; a vertically swinging frame; a short track section carried by the frame normally fitting the gap; a second track section carried by the frame adapted when the frame is swung up to fit in the gap; a box adapted to be pushed onto the second track section when the frame is down; cable grip mechanism carried by the box; and means carried by the swinging frame for opening the grip mechanism as a box is fitted in place, said openingmeans being adapted to release the grip mechanism when the box is pushed forward off said track section; and automatic means for pushing forward said box as the swinging frame is raised.

10. In a cable carrier system the combination of a pair of horizontal track rails having a gap formed therein; a vertically swinging frame; a short track section carried by the frame normally fitting the gap; a second track section carried by the frame adapted when the frame is swung up to fit in the gap; a box adapted to be pushed onto the second track section when the frame is down; cable grip mechanism carried by the box; and means carried by the swinging frame for opening the grip mechanism as a box is fitted in place, said opening means being adapted to release the grip mechanism when the box is pushed forward off said track section; a cam lever pivoted on a stationary part adapted to engage the rear end of the box when the swinging frame is swung up; and a finger on the cam lever adapted to be engaged by the top of the box to cause the operation of the cam lever.

11. In a cable carrier system the combination of a pair of horizontal track rails having a permanent gap formed in each; boxes having projecting lugs at opposite sides in different predetermined positions; parallel bars at different levels below each rail spanning the gap adapted to engage the lugs of certain of the boxes'to carry them over the gap; and a pair of bars below each rail leading down to a lower level and adapted to receive the lugs of one of said boxes between them; a track at a lower level adapted to receive said box; cable grip mechanism carried by the said 'box; and means adjacent the lower track to engage and release said cable grip mechanism.

12. In a cable carrier system the combination of a pair of horizontal track rails having a permanent gap formed in each; boxes having projecting lugs at opposite sides in different predetermined positions; parallel bars at different levels below each rail spanning the gap adapted to engage the lugs of certain of the boxes to carry them over the gap; and a pair of bars be low each rail leading down to a lower level and adapted to receive the lugs of one of said boxes between them; cable grip mechanism carried by said box and means adja cent the lower ends of the said pair of bars adapted to engage and release the cable grip mechanism.

13. In a cable carrier system the combination of a pair of horizontal track rails having a gap formed in each;vertical sup ports below each rail; thin straight bars carried by the supports parallel to the rails, the said supports being adapted to removably receive the bars at different levels; two pair of thin bent bars curved downwardly, one bar of each pair branching from one of the straight bars near one end thereof and the other bar of each pair removably connected to one of said supports at one of its bar receiving positions; and a pair of sup ports at a lower level to which the lower ends of the two pairs of bent bars are removably connected, the said pair of supports being adapted to receive said ends in any one of a plurality of positions.

let. In a cable carrier system the combination of a box; a plunger at one end movable vertically in suitable guides; a pair of pivoted jaws adapted to be swung clownwardly by said plunger to grip or release a cable, said jaws being pivoted at each side of and in substantial alinement with the position of the cable; a spring tending to move the parts to their cable gripping position with the gripping parts in substantial alinement with the pivots, said plunger projecting below the bottom of the box; a track on which said box is adapted to run and plunger engaging means carried adjacent the track adapted to engage the plunger and force it up to its cable releasing position as the box passes.

15. In a cable carrier system the combination of a box; a plunger at one end movable vertically in suitable guides; a yoke at the upper end of the plunger; a pair of pivoted jaws adapted to swing down to grip a cable between them; a pin and slot connection between the yoke and jaws; and a spring engaging the plunger and a station ary part tending to move the plunger to cause the jaws to assume their cable gripping position; the yoke being adapted to serve as a cable support as the jaws open or close.

16. In a cable carrier system using double tracks side by side the combination with a horizontal guide pulley of a rail offset adjacent the pulley to present, in plan, a p0rtion of some length adjacent the pulley substantially tangential to the groove in the pulley, the rail adjacent the pulley rising gradually from a lower level substantially to the level of the lower flange of the pulley.

17. In a cable carrier system using double tracks side by side the combination with a horizontal guide pulley of a rail oflset adjacent the pulley topresent, in plan, a por tion of some length adjacent the pulley, substantially tangential to the groove in the pulley, the rail adjacent the pulley rising gradually from a lower level substantially to the level of the lower flange of the pulley Copies of vthis patent may be obtained for the offset being located adjacent the lower rail level. A

18. In a cable carrier system using double tracks side by side the combination with a horizontal guide pulley of a rail oflset adjacent the pulley to present, in plan, a portion of some length adjacent the pulley substantially tangential to the groove in the pulley, the rail adjacent the pulley rising gradually from a lower level substantially to the level of the lower flange of the pulley the ofiset being located adjacent the lower rail level, and a cable catcher located adjacent the pulley side of the rail at the tangential part thereof.

Toronto, Ont, this 19th day of April,

' FREDERICK J. H. HAZARD.

Signed in the presence of E. P. HALL, W. G. MCMILLAN.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

